25 coolest athletes: Johann Cruyff

He epitomized the revolutionary concept of “total football”

The referee blew his whistle, kicking off the 1974 World cup final between Holland and Germany. The Dutch artfully tapped the ball among themselves while their opponents simply stood back. The men in orange strung together the first 15 passes of the game without a single German challenge.

Then, Johann Cruyff received the ball. He drove it towards the goal, shimmying past several defenders, only to be felled in the German box. Penalty. The match was 53 seconds old. Although Germany won the game, that magical opening exchange epitomized the revolutionary concept of “total football”, championed by Cruyff – Holland’s captain, talisman and most gifted player.

Cruyff believed that every player on the pitch should have the skill to play in any position. It's this attacking, aesthetically beautiful system that he exported to Barcelona as its coach in the eighties. And it’s this system that Barca follows even today, producing the most riveting football man has ever seen.

To mark the London Olympics, GQ's July issue features the 25 coolest athletes of all time. Get your copy at a local newsstand or subscribe here.